Saturday, August 6, 2011
All Blacks retain Bledisloe Cup with Eden Park win
Highlights of the All Blacks v Wallabies Bledisloe Cup test match played at Eden Park, Auckland.
Last updated 00:01 07/08/2011
It was yet another superb performance from Graham Henry's men and it's difficult to know what else needs to be improved on before the World Cup, so good was the performance.
The All Blacks had more to lose in the game. A Wallabies defeat could be comfortably brushed off as this is still a young Australia side that's developing and they also have a number of key players to come back in time for the World Cup.
But for the All Blacks, a loss on home soil just over a month out from the start of the World Cup would have been disastrous and that positivity around the country about the team would have evaporated overnight.
But none of that is going to happen. This win put a significant line in the sand ahead of the World Cup and All Blacks fans really can dare to believe that the Webb Ellis Cup is coming back.
To beat the team ranked No2 in the world so convincingly was the best indication as to how good this team is in 2011.
The key to last night's victory was the All Blacks' defence and their ability to shut down the Wallabies' runners before they got going. This was done by standing flat and putting in massive hits to stop all of the ball runners' momentum.
David Pocock conceded a penalty in the fifth minute by going straight to ground at a ruck, a mistake that Dan Carter was able to convert into three points.
This was quickly followed by a Ma'a Nonu try, his 18th for the All Blacks, as he was somehow able to dive around three Australians to score from two metres out
As the half went on the Wallabies started getting into the game with Will Genia and Quade Cooper showing touches of their magic while Rocky Elsom was putting in an immense performance up front.
However, it was to be the All Blacks who'd score the next try with Keven Mealamu going in from all of 10cm for the try and with Carter's conversion making the score 17-0 the result already looked to be in the bag.
Two missed penalties by James O'Connor didn't help the Australian cause and they looked a crushed side as they trudged off at halftime.
Carter's drop kick in the 48th minute was very un-All Blacks like, but was no doubt something to put into practice ahead of the World Cup.
Digby Ioane's try in the 54th minute finally got Australia on the board, but hopes of a comeback disappeared straight from the restart with Sitiveni Sivivatu scoring after Conrad Smith made a long run.
It was to be try that really sealed the contest. But impressively the All Blacks' concentration didn't drop off over the rest of the half. They stuck to their task, followed the game plan and got the victory.
Only a consolation try to Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom blotted the finish but it was a done deal by then.
The result means the Bledisloe Cup has been retained by the All Blacks for another year.
That's one trophy won, how many more are to come?
New Zealand 30: (Ma'a Nonu, Keven Mealamu, Sitiveni Sivivatu tries; Dan Carter 3 con, 2 pen, dropped goal)
Australia 14: (Digby Ioane, Rocky Elsom tries; Quade Cooper 2 con).
Halftime: 17-0
- Stuff
Monday, August 1, 2011
All Blacks keen to quell cocky Australians
TOBY ROBSON
Last updated 05:00 01/08/2011
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw talks about the importance of Saturday's Bledisloe Cup match against Australia.
Getty Images
GETTING DOWN: Digby Ioane celebrates for the Reds after their Super Rugby final victory over the Crusaders.
But All Blacks coach Graham Henry says the squad must maintain its focus on game plans, not emotions, as it builds toward the Rugby World Cup.
It is hard to escape the fact that the All Blacks will want to avenge recent defeats against their trans-Tasman foe, including last year's test loss in Hong Kong and the Crusaders' Super Rugby final loss to the Reds.
The fatigued four of hooker Keven Mealamu, prop Owen Franks, lock Brad Thorn and No8 Kieran Read have become the fresh four and are "likely" to start against the Wallabies.
There are already signs of a quiet desire in the All Blacks camp to stamp out Australia's growing confidence and cockiness.
Prop Ben Franks did his best to steer clear of controversy yesterday, but eventually admitted the wild celebrations that followed both matches did not sit comfortably with the understated Kiwis.
"You just need to watch the games and how they like to act and stuff after a win. So you don't really want to let them win," he said with a grin.
The Reds' post-match celebrations included a breakdancing routine from wing Digby Ioane, while All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw is unlikely to have forgotten the shove in the head he received from first five-eighth Quade Cooper last year.
Henry will not stamp out such thoughts, but knows his side's quest is on a larger scale as it continues to add to its repertoire.
"They are a very good side with some outstanding individual players and I think we've got to be on our game," he said. "We have to be bright in what we do, so it's going to be a big week in trying to get the right game plan to play Australia."
The approach would need to be different from the one that brought the All Blacks a 40-7 win in Wellington.
In other words the All Blacks will continue to develop their game, this time moulding it to a side that will keep the ball in hand far more than the Springboks.
First five-eighth Dan Carter said the players were realistic about what they had achieved in Wellington, but were pleased to have successfully trialled new methods, particularly on attack.
The challenge will be to continue the good work with new combinations, though it is becoming obvious most of this Tri-Nations campaign has been carefully planned.
The team to play the Wallabies would be "a strong test side", but Henry said the selectors would continue to manage each player individually and hinted some players who had a heavy load in the first two tests could get a rest.
"There are some guys in the squad who need space, they've played a lot of football. You can't send them all home at the same time, so there will be some who get a chance to recharge."
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